Rabbi Eliezer Igra Criticizes Women's Groups for Opposing International Agunot Law
Rabbi Eliezer Igra, former member of the Israeli Supreme Rabbinical Court, sharply criticized women's organizations for opposing the International Agunot Law, which aims to assist women trapped in religious divorce disputes abroad. In an interview on Rabbi Akiva Zuckerman's podcast "Shig VeSiah," Igra explained that the law addresses cases where local courts outside Israel cannot enforce the granting of a religious divorce (get), leaving women agunot, or "chained" to their marriages. He described situations where one spouse refuses to grant a get as a form of economic or personal coercion, noting that previously Israeli rabbinical courts could only intervene if the husband had a significant connection to Israel. The new law expands jurisdiction to cases where the husband has only temporary presence in Israel.
Rabbi Igra said that rabbis abroad requested this legislation and praised former Knesset member Aliza Lavie for advancing the bill. Although the number of cases is small, he emphasized the law's importance in saving agunot. He strongly condemned the opposition from women's organizations, asserting their resistance stemmed not from concern for women but from a principled fight against expanding rabbinical court authority. Igra claimed these groups prioritized reducing rabbinical power over women's welfare, even at the cost of child support payments. He also noted that Knesset member Shuli Mualem conditioned her support on whether her vote would be decisive, but the law passed despite opposition.
Regarding Lavie's claim that the law contributed to her leaving the Knesset, Igra said the controversy reflects a broader struggle over the status of rabbinical courts in Israel. He stressed the importance of maintaining the courts' authority, especially within the Religious Zionist community, viewing it as a fundamental element of the state. "This is not a marginal issue," he concluded.
